Abu Sayyaf beheading of Canadian Robert Hall an insult to the Aquino administration

Local terrorist Abu Sayyaf group's beheading of Canadian hostage Robert Hall is an insult to the Aquino administration, netizens think.
"As far as I know, the government under the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III did not do anything to stop the crimes and illegal activities of the bandits," a netizen who refused to be identified said. "What they did was to say sorry."

This despite the claim of Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. that law enforcement authorities have been conducting operations against the ASG for the past two months that "have degraded the capability of our enemies and limited their movements."

Earlier, the military had confirmed that the ASG beheaded Hall on Monday night in Sulu after the deadline for the P300 million ransom lapsed.

According to the statement from the AFP's Western Mindanao Command, civilians found a severed head near the Jolo Cathedral at around 8:45 p.m. on June 13. The remains were recovered by local security forces and were brought to the Kuta Heneral Teodolfo Bautista military camp, GMA News reported.

Meanwhile, incoming presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the beheading of the Canadian hostage was a "taunt to the present administration", not to the leadership of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Panelo said the Abu Sayyaf problem still rests with the outgoing Aquino government since Duterte has yet to be officially inaugurated as the country's 16th president on June 30, ABS-CBN News reported.

Asked about Duterte's stand on the issue, the lawyer said, "All I know is that President Duterte will not tolerate nor condone any illegality."